Narrative, Law, Prophecy, & Wisdom Books
Old Testament
The Book of Psalms
The Book of Psalms is a book of biblical wisdom. There are 150 songs that comprise the Book of Psalms. It is believed that King David wrote many of the Psalms. The psalms cover a variety of different subjects but many of them are happy songs that show praise for God. There are other Psalms that are sad prayers such as Psalm 74 while other Psalms tell how God will deliver people from despair such as in Psalms 40 and 41. Still other Psalms relate history and discuss the Bible. The common theme underlying the variety of Psalm topics is the wisdom that is imparted to the reader. The Psalms teach us that we must have faith in God how important the love of God is for us all. If one studies Psalm 24, he or she can see the celebration of God’s covenant and ultimate sovereignty. Psalm 24 is also considered by many Christians to be prophetic of God’s promise to send the savior Jesus Christ. While there is this convergence of wisdom and prophecy, the Psalms are mainly a form of wisdom in which the reader discovers why it is important to love and praise God.
Commentary
Ah, the Book of Psalms, the ultimate mixtape of biblical wisdom. So, King David, the original rapper, dropped 150 tracks of lyrical genius. We’ve got everything from happy tunes praising God to sad prayers and historical stories. It’s like the Billboard Top 150, but with more divine intervention. And don’t forget the wisdom — because nothing says wisdom like a good old-fashioned praise party. Psalm 24 even gives us a sneak peek into God’s promise to drop the hottest savior, Jesus Christ. It’s like reading the original script for a blockbuster movie — with a divine twist, of course.
The Book of Job
The Book of Job is a long narrative in the Old Testament. The Book of Job relates to the reader the lesson in why the innocent suffer and God’s place in this lesson. The story discusses God’s loyal believer Job, who was a good man. God believed in the fact that Job would not insult God or curse him. Even after losing all his possessions his children dying, and becoming ill, Job still was loyal to God.
In the end, Job is restored to success for his ardent faith in God and he is vindicated amongst his friends who believed that he was being punished for being evil. The story shows that God often has plans that go beyond the mortal vision and that patient faith will be rewarded. The story of Job also teaches us that God has not forsaken the suffering and that he cares, but that they must be patient. Job is a narrative but contains a strong point of wisdom dealing with faith and how faith must be blind.
Commentary
Yes, the Book of Job, the ultimate tale of divine testing and perseverance. It’s like a biblical soap opera with a twist. Job, the OG loyal believer, gets hit with all the trials and tribulations, but stays true to the divine. It’s like a reality show where God and Satan are the producers, and poor Job is the unwitting star. In the end, Job gets vindicated, and God’s like, “I told you so!” It’s like a divine plot twist that teaches mortals about the bigger picture and the virtue of patience. The Book of Job: a rollercoaster of faith and perseverance!
The Book of Jonah
The book of Jonah is a book of prophecy wrapped inside of a narrative. In the story, God sends Jonah to Ninevah, the enemy of Israel. Jonah did not desire to go to Nineveh and tried to escape his duty. Jonah boarded a ship in order to escape God but God caused a terrible storm to occur. Jonah was thrown into the sea in order to escape God but God sent a whale to swallow Jonah. Realizing, he could not escape God, Jonah repented and God saved him. Upon returning to land, Jonah went to Nineveh and completed the mission God asked of him. Jonah was sad because God spared Nineveh which Jonah hated.
The lesson told in this tale is that no matter where we travel and to what extremes one takes to ignore God’s will he or she is still in God’s grace. The prophecy is that God’s Will, shall be fulfilled despite our failings as people. Within this prophecy is the idea that God also loves every person from every nation equally as he shows this by sparing Nineveh the enemy of Israel.
Commentary
So, let’s put this book in plain terms so you will understand it: Jonah gets a divine travel assignment to Nineveh, the place he’d rather not visit, and decides to take a cruise in the opposite direction. Classic move, right? Then, a storm hits, and he gets thrown overboard and ends up in the belly of a whale. After some introspection in the whale’s cozy innards, he has a change of heart and decides to play by the divine rules. Then, he finally completes the mission, only to be salty about God sparing Nineveh. Talk about divine drama and a lesson in divine persistence, huh?
Just remember: God won’t give up, and you can’t escape!
The Book of Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is a book of law. This book is comprised of the instructions that Moses related to God’s children before died. The letter in many ways is a memoir of events in the desert and of God’s law. However, the book concerns law since Moses describes how if the people would suffer if they disobeyed God’s Will.
The Book of Deuteronomy literally means “second law” in Greek and this show the focus of the subject matter. Although Moses is seen as a prophet, the book of Deuteronomy deals almost exclusively with expressing God’s law that his people should have strict allegiance with Him and no other Gods. The punishments for this violation of law are also outlined in the book.
Commentary
The Book of Deuteronomy is like the ultimate divine rules combined with a cookbook, where Moses lays down the law for worship and diet before his grand exit. It’s a YouTube channel filled with memoir and legal drama, warning the Israelites about the consequences of disobedience, covering everything from idol worship to disobedient kids and unclean munchies. God is the ultimate influencer, imparting his divine code of conduct with with parental advice — because even ancient Israelites needed to know to eat their veggies and smack their kids!
The Book of Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is fundamentally a book of laws. Its central theme underscores the holiness of God, necessitating adherence to numerous rules to uphold God’s sanctity and laws. The Book of Leviticus delineates a multitude of regulations for God’s followers, emphasizing the importance of honoring holy days and offering sacrifices to God for the atonement of sins.
Leviticus is not merely a legal guide for laypeople; it also serves as a canonical manual for priests. It details the responsibilities and expectations of priests extensively.
One of the most significant teachings and laws that Leviticus imparts is the concept of confession for sins. Leviticus instructs us that to attain forgiveness, one must confess their sins and invite God into their life. This crucial law is reiterated frequently in the New Testament, underscoring its importance.
Commentary
Wow! Who doesn’t love following hundreds of rules and making animal sacrifices to please their God? I’m sure the priests loved slaughtering bulls and sprinkling blood on the altar, and the people must have been so happy to give up their best livestock and crops to atone for their sins. Don’t get me started on the holidays. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Atonement, and the Festival of Booths? Nothing like eating flat bread, fasting, and living in tents to show your devotion to God.
Don’t think that is all because you also learn you must confess your sins and invite God into your life every time you mess up. Because God is so holy and you are so sinful, you can never be good enough for him. What a kind and caring god, which provides you his grace and mercy so he doesn’t have to exert his wrath and judgment. That’s why he sent his son Jesus to die for you and take away your sins; to make you to believe in Him and His commandments. Who wouldn’t follow a guy who allows his only son to be crucified. Makes perfect sense, and it’s so simple. Isn’t that good news?
The Book of Numbers
The Book of Numbers, a legal text in the Old Testament, also serves as a historical account detailing the journey of Moses leading his people through the desert. It narrates the frequent disobedience and irreverence of God’s children. Several instances of these transgressions are depicted in the book, including complaints about food God provided in the desert, refusal to enter the promised land, and even a desire to go back to Egypt. These actions collectively explain why God’s children were destined to wander the desert for forty years.
The Book of Numbers is considered a book of law as it illustrates the consequences of disobeying God’s Word, often leading to a state of being lost and experiencing worse outcomes. The primary legal concept emphasized is obedience to God’s Word and the importance of faith in His Will.
Commentary
In some places, people would accuse someone telling that story of being insane, but coming from the bible, following a guy who talks to a burning bush and parts the sea with a stick makes perfect sense. Perhaps it is the kindness showed his people that makes them believe. I’m sure they had a blast wandering the desert for forty years. And the food God gave them must have been delicious. Who wouldn’t want to eat manna and quail every day? I know I would to enter the promised land flowing with milk and honey!
Seriously, Egypt was awful with the whole slavery and oppression business that God allowed to happen. Still, that’s no excuse not to obey God’s Word and have faith in His Will because God is so powerful and you are so weak. See how freewill works in your favor? You can never question him or doubt him because you need his guidance and protection to save you from enemies and hardships that he throws at you. That’s why he gave you his law and his prophets to avoid all the bad things he will make you suffer for your own good.
New Testament
The Book of Colossians
The Book of Colossians is a book of Law. At the time of the writing of the Epistles there was some form of heresy threatening the churches in Colossae. The description of this heresy stems from allusions within the epistle. The conclusion of most biblical scholars is that the false teachers referred to in the epistle were committing heresy by not giving Christ proper interpretation or emphasis. The belief was that these heretics were distorting and diminishing the doctrines of Christ.
The book of Colossians is part of the Epistles in which Paul reminds the Christians about the importance of Jesus. Paul warns the Christians about straying from the path of Christ. Paul believed and wrote in this book that Christians need to obey Christ, instead of tradition. Despite traditions seeming to wise, it is better to follow Christ so as to live a good Christian life.
The book of Colossians is Paul delivering the law of God to the Christians on how they should live. The book gives us standards on how we should interpret traditions and what needs to be prioritized as Christians. Ultimately, that love of God is achieved through living as Christ would.
Commentary
The Bible wisdom shows in Colossians with Christ obviously and correctly claiming to be the Son of God and the only way to salvation. No one ever made that claim before or after him. I’m sure the Christians didn’t mind rejecting the wisdom and culture of their ancestors and calling everyone who did mind “heretics” because clearly Jesus was the Son of God because he said so and because he performed a few magic tricks, just like David Copperfield — but better.
Of course all this came from Paul’s letters because Christi was already dead and resurrected many years prior so there was no reason to doubt him since Christians never lie. You also need to keep in mind that you cannot challenge the Word of Christ because He is so superior and you are so inferior, and if you disagree with him, it is the same as arguing with God which will likely end you up in the belly of a whale.
The Book of John
The Book of John is a short letter but powerful letter of wisdom in the New Testament. John discusses teaches us that as Christians we need to love each other and that we must not abide by those who teach wrong ideas concerning Jesus. The author was John, who also wrote John’s Gospel, Revelation, and two other letters. John is arguing against what people of the time were interpreting about Jesus such as his divinity and his death and resurrection. John teaches us that Jesus is God, who became man in order to die for our sins. John relates this as being the true message of Christianity. The book of John is a book of wisdom because it teaches how and why interpretations are misleading and can take one from the true path of God. The Book of John is also a book of wisdom because it is a gospel and witness for all Christians since John was there at the death and resurrection of Christ.
Commentary
The Book of John is a real page-turner! John really hits the nail on the head with his profound wisdom about loving each other and not listening to those who have “wrong ideas” about Jesus. I mean, who needs critical thinking when you have John to tell you what’s what, right? And let’s not forget that John wrote not one, not two, but three other letters, plus Revelation — so he must be telling the truth! We should all just blindly follow John and his interpretations, since he was there at the death and resurrection of Christ, right? Authenticity at its finest!
The Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is a book of Prophecy concerning the future. As the last book in the New Testament, it leaves the reader with both dread and hope of salvation. Written by John, Revelation tells the story of what happens to the believers of Christ and to the nonbelievers. For the faith filled there is salvation in God’s Kingdom. But for nonbelievers the punishments are graphically outlined. The book is prophetic because it tells of the fall of the Devil and the return of Christ. The book also discusses the many bad times that are coming for the world and in this prophecy is where many find faith. Revelation provides us with the reason that Christ must be accepted in our hearts to avoid the impending destruction and punishment of the nonbelievers and evil. We know from this prophecy that ultimately evil will be defeated. The prophecy shows believers why God can and should be trusted. Depending upon whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever, determines whether the prophecy is hopeful or dreaded.
Commentary
Ah! The final battle between good and evil! Imagining the horrors and wonders that await us all. What a fantastic end to world created for no other reason then to be destroyed by its creator. Who’s laughing now, nonbelievers! Who will be repenting believing in Jesus then when all those prophecies come true just all the other facts in the Bible.
Don’t worry, Christians, you will be okay because God is so just and you are so good for having used your freewill to escape his judgment and wrath. Yep, it will all make sense in the end.
The Book of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew, also known as Matthew’s Gospel, serves as a testament to the veracity of God’s word for Christians. The narrative extensively explores how the prophets during Jesus’s era made predictions about Christ, all of which were fulfilled. The book delves deeply into the life and deeds of Jesus.
One of the most renowned sections in this book is ‘The Sermon on the Mount’, a discourse delivered by Jesus. This sermon provides profound insights into Christ’s wisdom and teachings.
Matthew recounts numerous miracles performed by Jesus, demonstrating his power to vanquish evil. The Gospel of Matthew offers a comprehensive understanding of Jesus’s life, his sacrificial death, and the redemption he offers for our sins. More than just a narrative of Jesus, Matthew presents a theme of joy, portraying Jesus’s life as a beacon of hope for its readers.
Commentary
Time for the good news! In the Gospel of Matthew, also known as “Matthew’s Gospel,” Matthew tries to impress everyone with how Jesus is like the ultimate prophecy-fulfilling rockstar. He’s like, “Hey guys, check it out, the prophets totally predicted Jesus, and look, it all came true!” He goes on and on about Jesus’ greatest hits, like the Sermon on the Mount and his miraculous showdowns with evil. Of course, the book wouldn’t be complete without the dramatic finale of Jesus sacrificing himself for our sins. I mean, who doesn’t love a good tragedy, right? So, according to Matthew, Jesus is the ultimate hope-bringer, the original Mr. Sunshine. Can you feel the happiness radiating from the pages?
The Book of Romans
The Book of Romans is a book of law that takes the form of a letter from Paul to the Christians in Rome. Paul writes in this letter how individuals can be saved from punishment and how we should live as Christians. There are many key concepts that are pointed out by Paul. These ideas include:
· All people are sinners
· God has anger for evil
· God will save those who have faith in him
· We need God to save us
· Jesus died for our sins (for us)
· The Spirit of God can lead us in the right direction
· God always loves us.
The Book of Romans defines the law of God in our interactions with God on a daily basis. Knowing how to live is not enough, we need God to make our lives work correctly and right. This is the major theme of the Book of Romans, that salvation is attained through living by and through the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Book of Romans definitively shows that Jesus is the way to salvation for all people.
Commentary
The Book of Romans, a riveting read indeed! Paul’s letter to the Romans is a literary masterpiece, offering such profound insights like “All people are sinners” and “God has anger for evil.” How groundbreaking! What profoundness and insight into the human condition. Let’s not forget the eternal wisdom that “Jesus died for our sins.” Who would have thought do commit their only child to such an act but God?
Paul’s unparalleled critical thinking skills are on full display, showing us the need for God to save us from God sentencing us to Hell with Satan (who he also created) to be tormented for all eternity! Truly original concepts, never thought by any person before or since. Kudos to Paul for his prolific and undoubtedly firsthand account of these events that could not possibly be a work of bad fiction.
